Laurence delved into the textured leather bag with a practiced ease, his gloved fingers brushing against its contents before emerging with a pair of black shoes. They gleamed under the dim light, untouched by wear. He handed them to Daron who accepted them with a tentative grasp.
"Try these on," Laurence urged.
Daron obliged, slipping his feet into the shoes. A perfect fit. He rose, feeling the subtle shift from the floor's hard chill to the soft cushioning embrace of the footwear. Standing taller, he caught his reflection in the nearby mirror again. The scars on his body were hidden, the shadows beneath his eyes still there, but somehow less defining. The fragile boy from the hospital had been replaced by this almost confident young man clad in sharp lines and dark fabrics.
What a difference clothes make.
"Comfortable?" Laurence asked, eyebrows raised in amusement.
"Like they were made for me," Daron replied, flexing his toes inside the snug enclosure.
Laurence chuckled, then turned his attention to the second bag. It was smaller, more nondescript, but the way he handled it spoke of its importance. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a sleek device that bore a resemblance to a phone, yet its design whispered of complexities far beyond the mundane.
"You need to be reachable at all times," Laurence explained while placing the device in Daron's outstretched hand. "Since your Nexus bloomed, a normal phone won't do; they're unreliable around us."
Daron turned the device over, its surface smooth and cool, much like the shoes. He pressed a button on the side and it came to life with a soft glow.
"MagiTech," he murmured.
"Exactly," Laurence confirmed, his eyes reflecting the blue light from the screen. "No dropped calls or fried circuits when you're throwing spells around."
"Fried circuits?" Daron asked, his thumb swiped across the screen, feeling an unfamiliar pulse beneath the glass.
"The Nexus within us is rich with Mana, which interferes and wreaks havoc on normal electronics." Laurence leaned against the counter, his arms crossed as if shielding himself from the invisible waves of power emanating from them both. "But MagiTech thrives on that energy; it feeds off our innate abilities."
Daron ran a hand through his hair, nails glinting black against brown strands. "So this phone... runs on Mana?"
"Yes, and it's immune to the usual static our kind generates."
"Convenient," Daron muttered, still turning over the sleek, enigmatic device in his hands.
"More than convenient—necessary for survival." Laurence straightened up, eyes scanning Daron's face for comprehension.
Survival. The word imbued him with a sense of solemnity.
The conversation had changed; this was no longer about mere communication.
He had never given much thought to the impact of MagiTech on daily life, but he knew it came with a hefty price tag. His parents had scrimped and saved for years just to afford a few of those lamps in their home. Could this be why his father was always unreachable on his phone?
With the gravity of the moment hanging between them, Laurence reached back into the bag. This time, he pulled out something small, metallic—a tie pin. He laid it before Daron, who peered at it curiously.
"Our emblem." Laurence tapped on his own pin, drawing attention to its intricate design.
Daron picked it up.
The symbol was elaborate: an eight-petaled flower with wings arching protectively around its base, forming a shield. At the heart of the bloom rested a tiny human figure.
"Each petal represents a layer of a fully unfurled Nexus," Laurence explained, pointing to the petals one by one. "And the wings are our promise to guard humanity."
Daron rotated the pin, watching the light catch on the wings. "And the figure in the middle?"
"The humans we stand to protect." Laurence's voice held a note of pride.
"Protect," Daron repeated softly, tracing the silhouette.
Laurence's gloved hand delved into the depths of the bag one last time, emerging with a slender item. He extended it toward Daron—a black tie, sleek and unassuming.
"I took the liberty of tying it for you already. Put it on," he instructed as Daron accepted the tie, feeling its smooth fabric between his fingers. "But leave the pin for later. The magistrate's approval is required first."
"Approval for a tie pin?" Daron raised an eyebrow in mock disbelief.
"Symbols carry weight," Laurence replied, his tone laced with a serious tone.
A nod from Daron, and the tie was looped neatly around his collar—an ordinary act made significant by the transformation it symbolized.
"Edmund," Laurence called out, turning to the tailor who had been quietly observing the exchange. "Your craftsmanship remains unparalleled."
"Thank you, sir." Edmund bowed his head slightly. "The rest will be sent to headquarters as arranged."
"Much appreciated." Laurence flashed a smile that seemed to ease the lingering tension in the room.
Daron stepped forward, the shadows of the shop seemed deeper around him. "Thank you again," he said to the old man, his voice carrying the weight of gratitude beyond the suit and tie. "For everything."
"Go on now," Edmund replied with a knowing look. "Big things await you, young man."
With those parting words, Laurence ushered Daron out of the shop. They descended the few steps to where the limousine waited.
"Shall we?" Laurence gestured towards the open door, his demeanor shifting subtly as though bracing for the gravity of their destination.
They slipped into the vehicle, the soft click of the door sealing them away from the outside world.
Buildings blurred by, each one a fortress of stories held within stone and steel.
As they neared the center, the citadel rose up, a colossus of governance and might, shadowing the path ahead.
"Ready for what comes next?" Laurence asked, his gaze fixed on the approaching Magistrate building, its silhouette imposing against the skyline.
As the car drove towards the grand building, Daron clenched his hand tightly around Anne's gift in his pocket.
"Ready as I'll ever be."